Need a new outboard, whatcha think?

[Tbeeman]

I am replacing my outboard for the upcoming season and wanted some input.  Some background- I sail primarily on the upper Mississippi, current varies depending on snow melt and rainfall.  Sometimes I am forced to motor sail if there isn't enough wind to push upriver. When there is no wind I just motor to coves or the beach.  I am planning on going to Lake Michigan several times throughout the year.  I am looking at the 25" shaft honda 4stroke 9.9, I was also considering going up to the 15hp since it's only 8#more. Is there any benefit? I am even considering the sailpro 6hp.  I just want something reliable, easy to get repaired and with an good alternator to charge up my batteries.  Thanks!

[HeaveToo]

I have a 2 cycle Tohatsu 8hp outboard.  It is plenty of engine for the boat. 

There are a lot of reports on here for the Sailpro 6hp.  It has a special thrust propeller.  It should be all you need for your boat. 

If I was replacing my outboard I would go with the Sailpro. 

My sailing is on the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay.  I can see pretty high winds and big waves.  My current engine is plenty for dealing with these conditions and I don't see the advantage of a 15 hp outboard on the boat.

[Bob23]

I'll echo Heave, Bee:
   I have a older Nissan 8hp, 2 stroke 2 cylinder with 20" shaft and rarely bring it above half throttle even though I've had to motor into opposing wind and tide for 2+ hours straight. True, it's not as quiet as the new 4 strokes and may be a bit thirstier for fuel, but she starts first pull, every time.
The Sailpro seems to be a nice motor and a fellow 23 guy here, JT, uses one on his and is satisfied.
   Too much horsepower is not a good thing as any motor needs to run at a decent throttle setting to be efficient. You aren't going to push the boat past the hull speed anyway so even though it's only 8 lbs. heavier, it's still a waste. Whatever you get, I'd go with the 25" shaft- nice in high wave conditions.
Bob23

[brackish]

I've had two motors on my boat.  The first was a relatively new Suzuki 9.9HP  four stroke with electric start, 20" shaft that weighed 104 #.  The second and current is a 6HP SailPro also four stroke, 25" shaft that weighs 59#.  Both have alternators that should not be your first choice for general charging but are fine for topping off a mostly charged battery if you run them enough.

The Suzuki was and remains a very good motor.  I changed for the weight reduction.  Removing and replacing the motor for road trips was difficult and time consuming.  The motor definitely affected the trim of the boat when sailing, and when motoring with a 3-4 folks in the cockpit water would come up the scuppers into the cockpit.  Even raising the motor with the spring assist mount was hard on my back.  

All those problems went away with the Sailpro.  What I gave up with the Sailpro was about a quarter of a knot boat speed at WOT and living with slightly more vibration because the Sailpro is single cylinder, and of course, electric start.  However, the Sailpro starts so easily with manual the latter is not an issue.

I have used the Sailpro only in a lake that is part of the Tenn Tom so current is controlled by the lock and dam system.

A review for your info is here: http://cpyoa.geekworkshosting.com/forum/index.php?topic=6520.0

[nies]

Having sailed the Mississippi over the years, realized the wonder of sailing backwards as spring current was greater than forward motion of sails or small motor, would recommend more horses as power under some conditions will save you a lot of trouble......................nies

[Tbeeman]

Thanks!!! My concern was getting enough push against the spring current, which can lat well into summer.  I don't expect to be a speed demon, I would like to be able to get back upstream if I get caught down.  My understanding that if there is a 4knt current and hull speed is 6knts I will make a 2knt max.  So is there any advantage to more hp? Can you push the displacement hull on a 23 any more?

[nies]

Theoricically hull speed is the max, but with a enought horses the hull lifts and you can exceed the hull speed...............once in the spring we were going down river and radioed the railroad bridge to open below La Crosse, no answer and kept circling ever closer to the bridge until we headed back up  and the boat started to slide back toward the bridge, held our breath and no one moved, after a eternity the boat finallyl gained a few feet and then a few more and at last we were moving up the river, at a safe distance turned and shouted bad words at the brigeman........he opened the span and we shot through..............22 foot SouthCoast with a 9.9hp...............since that experience I make sure my motor has the power you may only need once in a blue moon............................nies

[Shawn]

Hull speed is it on a displacement hull. The sailboat company tried something like a 50hp engine on one of their Compac 16 trawler conversions. It just hit hull speed and made a large bow wave. The hull shape isn't a planing hull. Planning hull can climb over its bow wave given enough power.

I am a big fan of the 6hp sailpro on the 23. However, if you are going to regularly fight a 4 knt current I'd suggest a bigger engine. Not because the sailpro couldn't do it (it could) but because it would be wide open most of the time you needed to fight the current. A bigger engine would not need to be wide open. It would also give you a little reserve power in case you need to fight both the current and a strong headwind.

If the 4knot current is a once or twice thing the get the sailpro. You can always try getting closer to shore where the current typically isn't as strong. 

Shawn

[NateD]

I had a 9.9 HP Nissan 4 stroke on my 23 and I can't image needing more power than that. In flat water she would do 5 mph at 1/4 throttle. If I had another 23 I would go with a smaller motor. If you're worried about power, go for the 9.9, but I wouldn't go any larger. It won't help with fuel consumption, it won't help with boat trim, and I doubt you would ever use the extra HP.

[HeaveToo]

Another thing to consider when dealing with current in a river system is learning how to read it.  There will be areas where there is less current and other areas where there is more current.  If you can find ways to dodge the current and still have adequate depth you can use those to your advantage.  Think of paddling a kayak upstream in moving water.  You use rocks and other objects to break up the stretches of really hard paddling.  Same principle when it comes to motoring into current.

The Potomac River can get some okay current but I learned a lot about using the current when I was racing.  A lot of racers didn't take advantage of lifts and other gains you can get by current.  The majority of the current flows down the ship's channel so if you are going down river, against the current, you avoid that area.  You stay to the edges and out of the main current.  It can get really funky when you are going against the wind but with the current because you get a nice current lift and seem to point higher.  It is a real drag when you go against the current and the wind, literately and figuratively speaking.

In your river system, pay attention to the current and learn to read it and it will pay dividends. 

Then again, you could always re-power to a 10hp diesel and make your 23 a 23D if money wasn't an issue.

[nies]

I was born and raised on the Mississippi river and it is ever changing and what you thought you knew one day did not apply the next, knowledge is useful but being lulled into thinking you know her will get you trouble sooner or later.Rain upstream days prior will make the river fast higher the next, enjoy and be alert ..................nies

[HeaveToo]

Correct.  Still, knowing the signs of current lines and where to look for slack current doesn't change.

I did a bit of fishing/guiding/canoeing on a river system that changes from time to time.  The lines you would take through the rapids might change from time to time, but knowing what to look for doesn't.

[Tbeeman]

I'm well versed in the current around my stretch of the river. It's a long straight 6 miles   The shipping lanes are narrow and sides are shallow.  There are these awesome things called wing dams that lie just a few inches to feet from the surface depending on the level that day.   They branch from the shore to the channel in irregular distances from each other. I've only been suprised by one, -no damage.  Right now  I have a 2 stroke 8hp mariner from the late 80s that usually is 3/4 throttle or full against the current (more full). So at this point the 6 May be too small. 15 sounds more than what I need and no clear advantage over the 9.9 for the few pounds extra.  I have seriously considered fitting a 10hp diesel but I am not likely to find someone around here to do it.  Any other thought or recommendations?